One of the most important aspects of developing as a referee in rugby is a referee coach. These people play a vital role in helping get rid of weaknesses and improving strengths.
I have had many different coaches, who all seem to want me to do different things. As you can imagine, it is a confusing process.
Some coaches want you to referee to your style and fine-tune, some want you to referee the game the way they do. Some coaches speak before the game and ask you what you want to work on, some don’t speak to you before the game at all.
Referees should have some say in who they want as their coach, that way they can build trust, a rapport and find some understanding of what it takes to be good.
When the Lions toured Australia I attended an education session where Chris Pollock spoke about how Colin Hawke helped him become an international referee. Pollock is a superb referee, Hawke is a very good coach, and their work together has brought them great rewards.
If all referees were to have a mentor in their corner, they would get a much better understanding of the required competencies and what aspects of refereeing they can improve.
Ultimately the only opinion that matters about your refereeing is your coach’s, so they need to be upfront and honest about what they expect of you.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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